THE ASCENT PROJECT
Your Capital Journey Starts Here
THE ASCENT PROJECT
Your Capital Journey Starts Here
The Ascent Project is back in 2025, empowering women founders across Australia with the funding access, education, and networks they need to succeed.
The Ascent Project is back in 2025, empowering women founders across Australia with the funding access, education, and networks they need to succeed.
The Ascent Project is back in 2025, empowering women founders across Australia with the funding access, education, and networks they need to succeed.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Changing the way women founders in Australia access capital.
The Ascent Project, returning for its second year in 2025, is a 12-month national initiative designed to reshape how women founders raise capital, access startup education, and connect with funders and mentors.
Built on the momentum of its inaugural year, the program is evolving—with a mix of powerful nation-wide education and high-impact live events that unite ecosystem leaders, funders, and founders.
Ascent provides a step-by-step capital-readiness pathway with one clear goal: more funded, successful women-led startups.
Changing the way women founders in Australia access capital.
The Ascent Project, returning for its second year in 2025, is a 12-month national initiative designed to reshape how women founders raise capital, access startup education, and connect with funders and mentors.
Built on the momentum of its inaugural year, the program is evolving—with a mix of powerful nation-wide education and high-impact live events that unite ecosystem leaders, funders, and founders.
Ascent provides a step-by-step capital-readiness pathway with one clear goal: more funded, successful women-led startups.
Changing the way women founders in Australia access capital.
The Ascent Project, returning for its second year in 2025, is a 12-month national initiative designed to reshape how women founders raise capital, access startup education, and connect with funders and mentors.
Built on the momentum of its inaugural year, the program is evolving—with a mix of powerful nation-wide education and high-impact live events that unite ecosystem leaders, funders, and founders.
Ascent provides a step-by-step capital-readiness pathway with one clear goal: more funded, successful women-led startups.
About the Program
About the Program
About the Program
WHY IT EXISTS
Because the ecosystem is fragmented and women founders are still underfunded.
Australia’s startup landscape is full of opportunity, but lacks a unified, accessible path for female founders to scale with support and secure capital.
The Ascent Project aligns Australia’s most trusted education providers, networks, and investors into one cohesive experience that delivers real outcomes, not just inspiration.
Because the ecosystem is fragmented and women founders are still underfunded.
Australia’s startup landscape is full of opportunity, but lacks a unified, accessible path for female founders to scale with support and secure capital.
The Ascent Project aligns Australia’s most trusted education providers, networks, and investors into one cohesive experience that delivers real outcomes, not just inspiration.
Because the ecosystem is fragmented and women founders are still underfunded.
Australia’s startup landscape is full of opportunity, but lacks a unified, accessible path for female founders to scale with support and secure capital.
The Ascent Project aligns Australia’s most trusted education providers, networks, and investors into one cohesive experience that delivers real outcomes, not just inspiration.
About the Program
About the Program
About the Program
OUR MISSION
To unlock the next generation of women founders by providing step-by-step tailored funding education, financial literacy, and access to Australia’s most vibrant startup networks.
About the Program
About the Program
About the Program
OUR VALUES
Accessibility
We break down geographic, industry, and growth-stage barriers to deliver a truly inclusive program.
Accessibility
We break down geographic, industry, and growth-stage barriers to deliver a truly inclusive program.
Accessibility
We break down geographic, industry, and growth-stage barriers to deliver a truly inclusive program.
Impact
We’re focused on measurable results: funding secured, skills gained, connections made.
Impact
We’re focused on measurable results: funding secured, skills gained, connections made.
Impact
We’re focused on measurable results: funding secured, skills gained, connections made.
Community
Ascent builds on Fishburners’ legacy of founder-first support, helping women plug into a national opportunity network.
Community
Ascent builds on Fishburners’ legacy of founder-first support, helping women plug into a national opportunity network.
Community
Ascent builds on Fishburners’ legacy of founder-first support, helping women plug into a national opportunity network.
Collaboration
By bringing in investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders, we multiply what’s possible—together.
Collaboration
By bringing in investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders, we multiply what’s possible—together.
Collaboration
By bringing in investors, mentors, and ecosystem leaders, we multiply what’s possible—together.
About the Program
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Join 500–1,000 women founders across Australia
IRL event series with mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders
Support from Fishburners and our national partner network
Access to Australia's largest startup community
The exact resources, templates, and education to succeed
The real and tactical steps to raise capital
About the Program
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Join 500–1,000 women founders across Australia
IRL event series with mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders
Support from Fishburners and our national partner network
Access to Australia's largest startup community
The exact resources, templates, and education to succeed
The real and tactical steps to raise capital
About the Program
WHAT YOU'LL GET
Join 500–1,000 women founders across Australia
IRL event series with mentors, investors, and ecosystem leaders
Support from Fishburners and our national partner network
Access to Australia's largest startup community
The exact resources, templates, and education to succeed
The real and tactical steps to raise capital
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Testimonials
Testimonials
Testimonials
REAL VOICES FROM OUR FOUNDERS
Angela Metri Founder of Spread.co
“Female founders will have to do 10x the input to get the same results as their male counterparts.”
Yunmie Kim Co-Founder of StoryTribe
“You’re struggling because you’re a solo founder, a female founder, and a first-time founder. Investors don’t like that.”
Helen Murdoch Founder of DoughPro
“If you’re not earning, you’re learning.”
Jemi Jeng Founder of Penny
“Chasing capital can easily become a full-time job, and if you’re not careful, it pulls you away from the very work that makes your business worth investing in.”
Angela Metri Founder of Spread.co
“Female founders will have to do 10x the input to get the same results as their male counterparts.”
Yunmie Kim Co-Founder of StoryTribe
“You’re struggling because you’re a solo founder, a female founder, and a first-time founder. Investors don’t like that.”
Helen Murdoch Founder of DoughPro
“If you’re not earning, you’re learning.”
Jemi Jeng Founder of Penny
“Chasing capital can easily become a full-time job, and if you’re not careful, it pulls you away from the very work that makes your business worth investing in.”
Angela Metri Founder of Spread.co
“Female founders will have to do 10x the input to get the same results as their male counterparts.”
Yunmie Kim Co-Founder of StoryTribe
“You’re struggling because you’re a solo founder, a female founder, and a first-time founder. Investors don’t like that.”
Helen Murdoch Founder of DoughPro
“If you’re not earning, you’re learning.”
Jemi Jeng Founder of Penny
“Chasing capital can easily become a full-time job, and if you’re not careful, it pulls you away from the very work that makes your business worth investing in.”
FUNDING STARTS WITH CLARITY.
Get support through the Ascent Project.
© 2025 FISHBURNERS. All rights reserved.
© 2025 FISHBURNERS. All rights reserved.
© 2025 FISHBURNERS. All rights reserved.